Geranium plant named `HWD Ventura`

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of geranium plant named HWD Ventura, characterized by its semi-double bright red flowers; medium to large umbels; compact plant size; and freely branching plant habit.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of geraniumplant, botanically known as Pelargonium×hortorum, known as the varietyDuevent, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name HWD Ventura.

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted bythe inventor in Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of the breding programwas to develop a new freely branching, semi-double geranium with brightred-colored flowers.

The new cultivar originated from a cross made by the inventor of thenonpatented cultivar Robe as the male or pollen parent with thenonpatented cultivar Perlenkette Orange as the female or seed parent.

The cultivar HWD Ventura was discovered and selected by the inventor asa flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlledenvironment in Rheinberg, Germany. Asexual reproduction of the newcultivar by terminal cuttings taken at Rheinberg, Germany, has shownthat the unique features of this new geranium are stabilized andreproduced true to type in successive generations of asexualreproduction.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of HWD Ventura. These characteristics incombination distinguish HWD Ventura as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Semi-double bright red flowers.

2. Medium to large umbels.

3. Compact plant size.

4. Freely branching.

In comparison to the parent cultivar Robe, plants of the new geraniumhave larger umbels, lighter petal color, and zonation pattern on thefoliage. In comparison to the parent cultivar Perlenkette Orange, plantsof the new geranium have larger umbels, darker petal color, zonationpattern on the foliage, and more compact plant habit.

The new geranium is similar in petal color to the patented cultivarKleflam (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,551). Compared to plants of the cultivarKleflam, plants of the new geranium have larger umbels, fewer flowersper umbel, shorter peduncles, and lighter green foliage color.

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Flower colorappears more red than the actual flower color due to light reflectance.The photograph comprises a top perspective view of a typical pottedplant of HWD Ventura with one plant in a 10-cm container.

The cultivar HWD Ventura has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature and light intensity,without, however, any variance in genotype. The following observations,measurements and comparisons describe plants grown in Rheinberg,Germany, under commercial practice in a glass-covered greenhouse withday temperatures of 24° C. and night temperatures of 18° to 20° C. andlight levels of 45,000 to 60,000 lux. Plants were grown in 10-cm potswith one plant per pot.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

Classification:

Botanical.--Pelargonium×hortorum.

Commercial.--Zonal geranium.

Cultivar.--`HWD Ventura`.

Parentage:

Male parent.--Cultivar Robe.

Female parent.--Cultivar Perlenkette Orange.

Propagation:

Type cutting.--Terminal cuttings.

Time to initiate roots.--Summer: 27° C., 21 days; winter: 20° C., 28days.

Plant Description

General appearance: Rounded; compact plant size; upright; freelybranching.

Foliage description:

Arrangement.--Generally alternate.

Shape.--Orbicular with rounded tip and cordate base.

Size.--Length: 7 to 8 cm. Width: 7.5 to 8.5 cm.

Texture.--Velvety; pubescent on upper and under surfaces.

Margin.--Crenate.

Color.--Young foliage, upper surface: 137C. Young foliage, undersurface: 147B. Mature foliage, upper surface: 137C. Mature foliage,under surface: 147B. Zone, upper surface: 147A. Zone, under surface:None. Veins, upper surface: 145A. Veins, under surface: 145B. Petiole:144A.

Zonation.--Width of zone: 1.5 to 2 cm. Location of zone: 1 cm frommargin and 2.5 cm from petiole.

Venation pattern.--Palmate.

Petiole.--Length : 7.5 cm. Diameter: 2 to 2.5 mm.

Stem description:

Internode length.--1.3 cm.

Stem color.--144A.

Lateral branch number.--9.

Lateral branch length.--5 to 10 cm.

Flowering Description

Flowering habit: Freely flowering. Flowers arranged in umbels.

Natural flowering season: Year-round.

Flowers borne: Flower buds develop in apical leaf axils. Umbels aredisplayed above the foliage.

Quantity of inflorescences: Very floriferous; usually 6 open umbels andat least 6 developing umbels per plant at one time.

Umbels:

Form.--Rounded.

Diameter.--9.5 cm.

Depth (height).--7 cm.

Flowers:

Form.--Semi-double.

Shape.--Rounded.

Quantity of flowers per umbel.--20.

Diameter.--4.5 to 5 cm.

Depth (height).--2 cm.

Petals:

Shape.--Obovate with rounded tip.

Arrangement.--Rosette, overlapping.

Quantity.--6.

Aspect.--Flat.

Size.--Length: 2.2 to 2.5 cm. Width: 2.3 to 2.5 cm.

Texture.--Satiny, smooth.

Margin.--Entire.

Color.--When opening, upper surface: 46C. When opening, under surface:46D. Upper surface: 46C. Under surface: 46D, venous areas, 46A. Fadingto, upper surface: 43A. Fading to, under surface: 36D near sepals.

Petaloids:

Shape.--Irregular, generally obovate with rounded or clefted tip.

Arrangement.--Rosette, overlapping.

Quantity.--4 to 5.

Size.--Length: 2 cm. Width: 1 to 1.5 cm.

Texture.--Satiny, smooth.

Margin.--Generally entire.

Color.--When opening, upper surface: 46C. When opening, under surface:46D. Upper surface: 46C. Under surface: 46D, venous areas 46A. Fadingto, upper surface: 43A. Fading to, under surface: 36D, near sepals.

Peduncle (umbel stem):

Angle.--Erect.

Length.--14 to 15 cm.

Pubescence.--Very fine.

Color.--144A.

Pedicel (individual flower stem):

Angle.--Erect, rigid.

Length.--3 cm.

Pubescence.--Very fine.

Color.--144A.

Flower bud:

Shape.--Ovoid.

Length.--1.4 cm.

Diameter.--8 mm.

Color.--44A.

Sepals:

Arrangement.--Rosette.

Quantity.--5.

Size.--Length: 8 to 9 mm. Width: 2 to 3 mm.

Shape.--Acuminate with apiculate tip.

Texture.--Velvety.

Margin.--Entire.

Color.--Upper surface: 46A at base fading to 144A at tip. Under surface:46A at base fading to 144A at tip.

Reproductive organs:

Androecium.--Stamen number: 10 to 12. Anther size: 2 mm. Anther color:43A. Pollen color: 34C.

Gynoecium.--Pistil number: 1. Pistil length: 9 mm. Stigma shape:Decurrent. Stigma color: 63A. Style length: 4 mm. Style color: 63A.

Ploidy level: Tetraploid.

Disease resistance: No fungal, bacterial nor viral problems observed.

Seed development: Seed production is very rarely observed.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of geranium plant namedHWD Ventura, as illustrated and described.